Claire

by Lynda Behling

  "You must realize that I already do anything you ask." He said simply. His slitted eyes were sharp, his dark face impassive. She looked to the side. Her heart thudded in her small chest. "Oof course I have. But I don't think you would do anything. I think eventually you will tell me no. You are your own person, you know."

  "I won't ever tell you no." He said to her. There was a dead certainty in his gaze. "I need you."

  "I know that." Claire said. Her cheeks reddened slightly, but she still stubbornly looked to the side. "But you shouldn't do anything I say just because of that."

  "Why not?" He asked, tilting his head to the side lazily. "I want you to stay with me."

  Claire closed her eyes tightly. "I would do that anyway." She said. What was this tight feeling in her chest? It felt like something was going to burst out of her ribcage. "I don't want to take advantage of you. I-if I ask something of you that you don't agree with, I want you to tell me. I have to look after you, you know. You're hopeless by yourself."

  "Then, can I ask something of you?"

  "If you want."

  "Can you look at me?"

  She opened her eyes, turning her head back to him. He was still sitting on the floor, leaning against the couch. He looked severely out of place next to the faded floral print. She stared at him. At his slitted tawny eyes surrounded by black. At his thin, dark features. "What is it you wanted to ask?"

  "I just wanted to see your eyes." He answered dispassionately. "It's there, that you care for me."

  Claire felt her heart calming down. It was beating properly now. The tensed feeling in her chest loosened. She sighed heavily. "You're being silly." She grumbled. “You've been watching the show too much. The mushiness is affecting you.”

  She was suddenly feeling tired. She let out a huge yawn. "It's time for bed." She announced, rubbing under one eye.

  He stood up and walked over to the door. He waited patiently for her to open it for him. They walked down the hall together. He walked slowly, so his long strides didn't out pace her short ones.

  Chapter VII – The Garden Claire wore a frilly white dress with pale yellow trim, she carried a lacy yellow parasol in her hands. She beamed up at Julius. "I'm all set." She said happily. She was so excited that she was actually going to walk through the garden maze with Julius, that she had stayed up half of the night. Beast ended up having to breathe for twenty minutes before she finally drifted off.

  Julius couldn't help but smile down at her. She was so cheerful that it was contagious. "The maze is very difficult to navigate, so please stay close to me." He looked her in the eyes seriously. "All right?"

  She nodded happily. That wouldn't be a problem. She would have found it difficult to wander from his side under normal circumstances. She hid her face under her parasol before she started blushing again.

  He looked at the top of the parasol. There was a cunning gleam in his eye. He had decided that he wanted this little girl to like him. The thought that had stirred in the back of his mind a week ago had only grown. A plan was forming in his brain, and for it to succeed, she would have to like him more than anyone else.

  But, he wasn't used to being around children. He wasn't quite sure how to make her like him.

  He knew that he was naturally charismatic. He could sway opinions with his voice and demeanor. A useful skill for the Regent. He could make women desire him easily enough. But, he knew that most of those tactics were inappropriate in this situation. Still, he recalled how she blushed sometimes. Perhaps he just needed to water down his usual wooing tactics. It was simple, when he thought it over.

  Still... he had to be careful. He couldn't risk leading her on, making her misunderstand his intentions.

  He caught himself and nearly laughed aloud. She was just a child. There was no way something like that would even occur to her.

  They walked to the entrance to the garden maze. It was a tall hedge carved into an arch and covered in white roses. Claire raised her head and looked out from under her parasol as they passed under the arch. It was a few hours after noon. The sunlight was getting weaker and the garden's walls were high.

  The garden was thrown into an early evening. There were elegant wrought iron lamp posts placed here and there in the maze, casting soft light over a small area.

  Flowers and plants did not grow randomly here, Claire soon discovered. They were sectioned off like the exhibits in Julius' gun museum. Only without all the glass. Next to each section was a small plaque with gold-colored lettering on it. Some specimens were even barricaded so no one could touch them easily.

  The variety of colors and shapes was breathtaking. Blues and oranges, yellows, reds and violets. The most diverse flowers were the roses. He had so many, of all different colors. There were some of the deepest crimson. And some a pale baby blue. One variety looked like fire, with the outer petals a pale yellow darkening to burnt orange in the center. They grew on bushes, as well as vines.

  The air was heavy and sweet. She breathed in deeply. Everything smelled so fresh and green. She was so glad that she had beaten Julius at chess. She wondered if she could convince him to play another match with her.

  What would she ask for when she beat him again? She saw him in her mind, smiling at her softly. "Claire, you're so cute." She imagined him kneeling in front of her, brushing his mouth against her cheek.

  She shook her head violently, trying to dislodge that daydream. Something like that would never, ever happen, even in a million years. She put a hand to her cheek. It felt very hot under her fingertips.

  Julius looked around the maze wistfully, his white-gloved hands in his pants pockets. He wore his usual black business suit. His jacket was open though, a sign that he was relaxed. "I haven't been here in years..."

  Claire turned to him, tilting her head to the side. She wore an expression of disbelief. "But you live here." She spread her arms out. "This place is wonderful. It's so peaceful, and everything smells so nice. If I lived here, I would be down here every week."

  "Actually, I don't spend that much time here at the Manor." He revealed. "I have quarters at the Crystal Palace, where I do most of my work." Claire knew about the Crystal Palace. It was in the Diamond District, flanked by the Gold and Steel Districts. The Silver District went around the southern half of the Gold and Steel Districts, while a steep cliff face went around the top half. The Palace itself was part of the cliff.

  The Crystal Palace was the home of the High Empress, the ruler of the city. From the television, Claire had gathered that no one had seen the High Empress in person in quite a long time, except for the Regent and the Council. Rarely, she did appear on television. Though it was mostly Julius who was on the TV, handing down proclamations and new laws.

  "I come home when I have time off." He continued. "It's the holiday season, so I have been getting one day off a week, which is a lot. Usually I don't come home for weeks at a time."

  Claire looked uncomfortable. "So, you have been spending all of your time off with me?"

  He laughed lightly. "Not every second, but part of it, yes. You're only here in the afternoon, I go out at night."

  "Oh..." Claire felt relieved. At least he wasn't wasting all of his precious free time with her. She would feel bad if he didn't do things he enjoyed as well. "Where do you go at night?" She asked him curiously.

  There was a strange look in his eye as he smiled at her. "Why do you want to know?"

  She blushed lightly. "N-no reason..." She turned back to the flowers.

  Julius chuckled to himself. He really couldn't tell her that he went out to hunt down female company for the evening. Even if she was small, she was still a girl. And girls do tend to get upset over such things.

  Claire paid particular attention to the roses as they continued on through the maze. She was searching for one color specifically. But, she couldn't find it anywhere. She was starting to get frustrated by it's absence.

  "Are you looking for something?" Julius asked her.

 
She turned to him suddenly and pointed at his chest. "Where do those grow?"

  He looked down at the black rose pinned to his jacket. He blinked in surprise. Then he smiled down at her, bending over a little so his face was closer to hers. "I'm sorry, little one. They don't grow out here in the garden. And, I don't think you will ever uncover their secret."

  She frowned at him cutely. "What if I beat you at another game of chess, would you tell me then?"

  His smile didn't waver. "I'm sorry, but no."

  Her sapphire eyes had a stubborn look to them. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Why not? Is it someplace bad?" She gave him a suspicious look.

  This time, he couldn't suppress his laughter. "I guess you could say that. It's certainly a place that you don't belong."

  She gave him a long, evaluating look. "This isn't one of those 'when I'm older' things, is it?"

  He shook his head solemnly, though his eyes glittered with amusement. "No, not even then."

  She shrugged nonchalantly. "I guess I will have to accept that, then." She sighed. She spotted a wood and wrought iron bench. She walked over to it and sat down, crossing her legs at the ankles primly. She closed her parasol and leaned it against the side of the bench. She sighed in relief and changed the subject. She hated when her curiosity went unsatisfied. "This maze is bigger than I thought. My feet are getting tired."

  Julius sat down on the grass, unheeding of his expensive suit, leaning against the bench. He tilted his head up, looking back at her. "It looks small and simple from the patio, but I've lost two gardeners in here." He joked. Even from this angle, she could see no flaws in his appearance. Her heart fluttered strangely as she gazed down at him.

  "What were your parents like?" He asked her suddenly, genuinely curious.

  Claire frowned in thought, putting a finger to her mouth. "Mommy was pretty and smart. Daddy was very strong."

  He laughed lightly. "I'm not used to such simple answers coming from you. What were their names?" He kept his voice casual. Any information he could gather from her parents would be very useful to him. He was intensely curious as to which family she belonged.

  But Claire wasn't listening to him. Her frown deepened. There must be something...

  Why was it so difficult to remember them? She had before... hadn't she? Had she ever recalled what they looked like? What were their names? She felt something stir in the back of her mind. It was something awful, something painful. She shied away from it fearfully. "I-I can't remember." She said tightly. She scrunched her eyes closed, as if remembered caused her physical pain.

  Julius felt alarm go through him. He sat up straight. "I didn't mean for you to recall a bad memory." He said, keeping his voice gentle. But, she didn't hear him. Her hands went to the sides of her head as she felt a sharp stab behind her eyes. She began to shiver violently. "Claire?" He turned to her, resting on his knees before her. He put his hands on her shoulders, shaking her gently. "Claire!"

  Her small frame stiffened. Her eyes flew open wide. They stared up at him blankly, empty. Then they softened as tears welled up. "They're gone." She whispered. There was panic waiting at the edges of her voice. "I can't remember them!" Her shoulders hunched and she bowed her head as she began to cry.

  Julius looked down at her shaking form, feeling awkward. He definitely wasn't used to children crying in front of him, though he had seen plenty of tears in his lifetime. What was he supposed to do now? He had never tried comforting anyone before. Maybe, hopefully, she would just stop on her own. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a flicker of movement. He turned his head to it immediately, his hands dropping from Claire's shoulders. One hand went to his inside jacket pocket instinctively.

  But there was nothing. He looked around, but found no movement, nor anything out of the ordinary. He narrowed his dark eyes, wary, but turned back to Claire. His hand fell away from his jacket.

  She didn't look like she had noticed anything. She was still crying, and she didn't look like she was going to stop any time soon. He was feeling a little annoyed now, but he wasn't sure at what. At her, or at himself for starting this whole mess. He placed his hand on top of her head and said the first thing that came to him. "It'll be fine."

  Her sobs ceased immediately. He breathed a small sigh of relief. She sniffled. "How can you be sure of that?" She asked him. She looked up at him, giving him a sharp, disbelieving look. Tears still ran down her cheeks. Crap. He was really digging himself a hole here. He was supposed to make her like him, not put her into fits of sobbing.

  "Because..." He searched his mind for something to say. "I know it will be fine. Pain is something everyone deals with. You don't remember them because you've associated a deep hurt with them. Over time, that pain will dull, and you will be able to remember them again." That... actually didn't sound too bad. He seemed to remember someone once telling him the something similar, a long time ago.

  She wore an incredibly doubtful expression. Her eyes were very red and there were tear tracks going down her cheeks. He pulled out his handkerchief with a heavy sigh. He placed one hand firmly under her chin, holding her face still as he wiped her cheeks. She shut her eyes. He rubbed her face just a little too hard. "Look, you remember how you feel about them, don't you?" He asked, keeping his patience.

  She nodded as best as she could with his hand holding her face still. "I love them."

  "Then, that's what matters. The little details will come back with time." He handed her the handkerchief so she could wipe her nose. She ducked her head so he couldn't see. He sat back down on the grass, leaning against the bench again.

  She sniffled a little more, then just sat on the bench miserably. Her palms were pressed into the wood. "I'm sorry." She said. "I've made you uncomfortable." She really, really hated crying in front of other people more than anything. Crying in front of Julius was ten times worse.

  He sighed heavily. "It's fine." He said dismissively. "I don't think it will be the last time."

  "Then, I apologize for all future occurrences as well." She paused. "Though, I don't know how many there will be, with me coming over just once a week."

  "I wanted to talk to you about that." Julius said quietly, facing away from her. "You like it here, don't you?"

  "Of course." Claire answered, her voice still thick from crying. Why did he think she came over every chance she could?

  "I wanted to discuss with you, about maybe staying here one day." He looked back up at her. He injected just the right mix of sincerity and uncertainty into his gaze. "If you wanted."

  But, she only frowned in confusion. "You mean, like, overnight?" She asked.

  He caught himself, suppressing a small laugh. He failed to hide his amused smile though. "No, I didn't mean just overnight." He replied. "I mean, living at the manor."

  Claire just stared at him. He continued talking, though it seemed like it was more to himself. "We still wouldn't see each other all that much, especially when work picks up again. But there is still a lot I could offer you here. You could go to a good school, make the right connections. The Manor is pretty much empty when I'm not here, except for the servants of course. It's a waste, really. Besides," He looked at her seriously. "Wouldn't it be nice to have a home?"

  Her fingers tightened on the bench as excitement bubbled up inside of her. "But, I live at The Sword and the Rose." She said stupidly, her brain throwing out whatever popped up.

  "Yes, this is true, but is it really your home?" He asked her.

  Claire thought for a long moment. The Sword and The Rose was nice, and the food was excellent, and she considered Mrs Kennie a wonderful friend. But there was so much of each day that she just drifted around with Beast aimlessly. No matter how kind Mrs. Kennie was, she still fell under the category of 'Guest'. "I suppose not. I don't know where my home is. I mean, where it will be."

  "It's just an idea. I will let you think it over before I force a decision on you." He grinned. "I'm not sure how long I can wait though."

  Cl
aire's face reddened. "Why do you say it like that?"

  "Because, I want you near me." He answered softly. She ducked her head. She was sure she was going to set the bench on fire.

  Julius' dark eyes glittered. He should have known that a girl was a girl at any age. This was almost too easy. He really could provide her with so much. But, he did expect a return on his investment. Acquiring the only redhead in the entire city had nigh limitless possibilities. As she got older, and was more exposed to the media, he could see her popularity skyrocketing, increasing his own status in the process.

  He wondered if she could sing. He would make sure she took choir in school. Deportment as well.

  Ah, but he was getting ahead of himself. He would have Jacqueline draw up the contracts tomorrow. He could bring them by the restaurant next week. Better yet, Snowfall was in a couple of days.

  The city went by a seasonal calender, quartered into the four seasons. Spring, summer, fall, winter. Within the city limits, the cloud of pollution from the Copper District blocked the sun. So, summers were never hot. The cloud also served as a kind of blanket for the city, so winters were never cold.

  The High Empress was very powerful. So much so that she could control ice and snow. For inexplicable reasons of her own, on the last day of winter she sent an icy sheet over the city. One heavy snow, to mark the passing of the year. Snowfall. It was a citywide holiday; schools were closed, as were most businesses. Gifts were even exchanged, tokens to usher in the new year.

  "What are you doing for Snowfall?" He asked her suddenly.

  She looked up at him, her cheeks had finally cooled. "Mary is closing the restaurant that day, and we're all going to have a small party."

  "Hmmm." He mused, putting two fingers to his mouth. She looked at him curiously. He changed the subject. "It's getting late, would you like to see something interesting before you go?"

  She nodded. "Is it something here?" She looked around.

  He shook his head. "Something up there." He pointed behind her.